ENVIRONMENT RISK FACTORS | PEOPLE, DEVELOPMENT & ENVIRONMENT

NTA JUNE 2019

Assertion (A): Methemoglobinemia is a condition in which blood is not able to carry and deliver enough oxygen to the body.

Reason (R): Consuming drinking water with high nitrate levels may cause methemoglobinemia.

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

(1)       Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)

(2)       Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A)

(3)       (A) is true but (R) is false

(4)       (A) is false but (R) is true

Ans: 1

Blue baby syndrome or infant methemoglobinemiahappens when there is not enough oxygen in the blood. Most common cause is water contaminated with nitrates. Body converts the nitrates to nitrites and these nitrites bind to the haemoglobin in the body, forming methemoglobin, which is unable to carry oxygen. Symptoms may include blue-coloured skin, headache, dizziness, shortness of breath, nausea etc.